Profiled rail and accessories used as a suspension device

ABSTRACT

The profiled rail ( 1 ) is designed for a suspension device having carriers ( 6 ) which can be plugged into the profiled rail ( 1 ) and on which articles can be suspended or set down. The profiled rail ( 1 ) is fastened horizontally on a carrying structure ( 9 ) and has a passage ( 10 ) which extends from a front entry point and into which the carriers ( 6 ) can be plugged. Arranged within the profiled rail ( 1 ) is a conductor rail ( 2 ) with current conductors ( 24,27 ) which is supplied with electricity via a power supply ( 3 ), the current conductors being accessible from the passage ( 10 ) for the purpose of tapping electricity for supplying a consuming unit ( 7 ) which can be connected via a feed line ( 46 ). The current conductors ( 24,27 ) can be tapped in an uninterrupted manner over their entire axial extent by means of an adapter ( 4 ) which can be pushed into the passage ( 10 ), can be positioned along the profiled rail ( 1 ) and can be connected and disconnected. The electrification of the profiled rail ( 1 ) gives rise to extended design possibilities for furniture, shop and trade-fair construction, and for outfitting systems, as a result of the integration of electric current.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a profiled rail and accessories used as asuspension device having carriers of different types, for examplesupports, shelves or carrying arms, which can be fitted into theprofiled rail. The articles which can be suspended or set down on thesupport may be, for example, displayed goods, items for commercial orprivate use, exhibits or decorative objects. The profiled rail isfastened horizontally on a carrying structure, essentially in the formof a rear wall or panel and rack components. The profiled rail can beutilized individually as a fitting; it is possible, for example, for adisplay wall in a commercial establishment to be fitted out with aplurality of such profiled rails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

GB 2 224 923 discloses a horizontal rail with a plug-in slot which iswidened downward behind the access point and has a horizontal base inthe widened portion. An upwardly extending groove is formed in thevicinity of the bottom of the slot, and a narrowing bead is positionedin front of this groove. In front of the bead, the slot has a greaterextent in the upward direction. Shelves or carrying arms can beinserted, as carriers, into the horizontal rail, a tongue element whichis directed toward the plug-in slot being present on these shelves orcarrying arms for the purpose of engaging in the slot. The tongueelement has an upwardly directed nose at the front to complement theupwardly directed groove in the horizontal rail. At the front end, thetongue element has a bevel on its underside. When the shelf or thecarrying arm is inserted, the front edge is raised, while the tongueelement is lowered. The tongue element can thus be introduced into theslot, the bevel being in the vicinity of the bottom and the nose endingup located below the groove. Once the shelf or carrying arm has beenpositioned horizontally, the nose engages in the groove, with the resultthat a horizontal drawing-out action is not possible. At the accesspoint, the tongue element is supported on the bottom edge of the slot.This horizontal rail has to be inserted into a rear carrier, e.g. awooden beam, and additionally covered at the front with verticallyattached panel elements. In this respect, the design involves highassembly outlay and is not particularly versatile.

WO 01/43599 discloses a suspension device having a horizontally fittedprofiled rail with a passage which extends between a front entry pointand a rear boundary. The passage has, at the top, a slope which slopesupward in the direction of the entry point and thus forms a topclearance. At the bottom, the passage has an inclination which isinclined downward in the direction of the boundary and thus forms abottom clearance. The passage also has, at the top, an undercut which ispositioned in front of the boundary, as seen in the direction of theentry point. The plug-in carrier has at least one tongue element whichcan be plugged into the passage of the profiled rail and has an upwardlydirected hook which is intended for engaging in the undercut. As analternative, the carrier is a shelf of which the rear border can beplugged into the passage of the profiled rail. This device has beensuccessfully used for many years now, but there is a desire to extend itin functional terms.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the increased requirements, with the focus on functionaldiversity and originality of design, the object of the invention is topropose a profiled rail of the abovedescribed type and also accessorieswhich extend the possibilities for use as a result of electric currentbeing supplied. The intention is for the electrical installation to beaccommodated in as space-saving and unobtrusive a manner as possible andto be capable of advantageous installation and versatile use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and shortcomingsdiscussed above by providing a profiled rail designed for a suspensiondevice having carriers which can be plugged into the profiled rail andon which articles can be suspended or set down. The profited rail isintended for fastening horizontally on a carrying structure and has apassage which extends into the profiled rail, in principle horizontally,from a front entry point. Arranged within the profiled rail is aconductor rail with current conductors which is supplied withelectricity via a power supply. The current conductors are accessiblefrom the passage for the purpose of tapping electricity for supplying aconsuming unit which can be connected via a feed line.

The conductor rail comprises an insulating profile and currentconductors which are accommodated in wire channels and can be tapped viaaccess points substantially over the entire axial extent of the currentconductors and in a substantially uninterrupted manner. The conductorrail is arranged in a current-conducting groove which extends from thepassage. The insulating profile of the conductor rail has outer contourswhich fit into complementary inner contours of the current-conductinggrooves. The current-conducting groove is arranged, remote from theentry point, in the depth of the passage and substantiallyperpendicularly to the latter. The access points open, substantiallyperpendicularly to the passage. The insulating profile has asubstantially M-shaped cross section. The two access points are eachlocated at the bottom within the side legs of the M-shaped crosssection. The wire channels with the current conductors provided thereinare each located at the top within the side legs, in the profile tips.The current conductors can be tapped by an adapter which can be pushedinto the passage.

The end of the passage is defined by a base plate. The base plate has atop extension extending upward and a bottom extension extendingdownward, beyond the region of the incoming passage. Adjacent to thebase plate, a hook groove extends upward, and an arresting grooveextends downward, out of the passage. The passage is bounded at the topby a top strut and at the bottom by a bottom strut. At the top, thepassage has a slope which slopes upward in the direction of the entrypoint and thus forms a top clearance. At the bottom, the passage has aninclination which is inclined downward in the direction of the baseplate and thus forms a bottom clearance. In the bottom strut, in thevicinity of the entry point, a strip groove is provided foraccommodating a non-slip and damping, preferably elastic extrudedprofile. Arranged at the end of the passage is an axially accessibleraised molding, extending along the profiled rail, for tapping theground contact of the adapter.

Furthermore, the profiled rail has a supporting strut which extends fromthe bottom strut, opens out into the bottom extension and encloses acavity with the bottom strut. Located on the top strut is a downwardlyextending tongue with a tongue groove located alongside it. Provided onthe bottom strut is a downwardly extended tongue with a tongue groovelocated alongside it. In each case one screw-connection channel isprovided in the region where the supporting strut extends from thebottom strut and in the region where the top strut opens out into thebase plate. A notched line is provided as a marking preferably on bothsides of the top extension. The tongue strips are intended for beingaccommodated in tongue grooves which are present in the edges ofattached panels. The notched lines serve as an orientation means forscrew holes which may optionally be provided, and can be utilized inorder for the construction comprising the carrying structure with one ormore profiled rails being introduced to be fastened directly orindirectly on a part of a building.

The power supply is formed, in the first instance, by a cutout on theprofiled rail, into which a connection terminal is inserted. The powersupply also includes a plug coupling comprising a bushing, which ispositioned in the cutout alongside the connection terminal, and a plug,which can be coupled to the bushing from the outside and to which thecurrent-supplying feed line is connected. Finally, the power supplyincludes a ground terminal on the profiled rail.

The carrier has, when in the form of a carrying arm, at the plug-in endof the bar part, at least one tongue element which can be plugged intothe passage of the profiled rail and has a bottom tapered portion and anupwardly directed hook which is intended for engaging in the hookgroove. As an alternative, the carrier is in the form of a shelf ofwhich the rear edge can be plugged into the passage of the profiledrail. The adapter can be pushed separately into the passage for powertake-off or, inserted into an aperture of a shelf, can be pushed intothe passage together with the shelf.

The adapter has, in the first instance, a rotatable pin and, on theinput side, contact lugs which can be pivoted on the rotatable pin andare intended for power take-off from the current conductors, and a tapfor the grounding conductor. Located on the output side are lineconnections and a ground-contact connection, which are connected to afeed line to a consuming unit. The adapter further comprises a housingwith a bottom plate, a cover, an output connector and an optional plategroove in the housing for insertion into the aperture of a shelf. Theoutput connector merges into a conduit for further cable routing to theconsumer. A rotary knob, which is accessible to the user and connectedto the pin, is provided on the adapter. The housing contains a pinbearing, and an inhibitor acts on the pin. Seated on the pin is a catchwhich, in the connected state, when the contact lugs butt against thecurrent conductors, engages at least in one of the grooves. In thedisconnected state, the catch is disengaged, with the result that theadapter can be pushed into the passage or drawn out of the passage.

The adapter is provided, in particular, for use with the abovedescribedprofiled rail, but constitutes a subject matter of the invention whichis independent from this profiled rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a profiled rail according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 1B is a side sectional view of the profiled rail according to FIG.1A;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a separate conductor rail from theprofiled rail according to FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view of the conductor rail according toFIG. 1C;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the profiled rail according to FIG. 1Awith a cutout for the power supply and a panel attached;

FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A with a connection terminalinserted;

FIG. 2C is a view similar to FIG. 2B with a plug coupling shown explodedfrom the profiled rail;

FIG. 2D is a view similar to FIG. 2C with the plug coupling connected;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an adapter in the locked, connectedposition;

FIG. 3B is a view similar to FIG. 3A in which the adapter is shownwithout a cover;

FIG. 3C is a partial view showing a separate rotary knob with pin andcontacts according to FIG. 3B;

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of the adapter according to FIG. 3A in theunlocked, disconnected position;

FIG. 3E is a view similar to FIG. 3D in which the adapter is shownwithout the cover;

FIG. 3F is a partial view showing a separate rotary knob with pin andcontacts from FIG. 3E;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified adapter according to FIG. 3Ain the locked, connected position, without a plate groove in thehousing;

FIG. 5A is a partial perspective view of the adapter according to FIG. 4inserted into the profiled rail according to FIG. IA, with a panelattached;

FIG. 5B is a right side view of the adapter and profiled rail assemblyaccording to FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a top perspective view of the adapter according to FIG. 3Ainserted into a shelf;

FIG. 6B is a detail, view of the adapter according to FIG. 6A, theadapter having no cover;

FIG. 6C is a detail view of the adapter according to FIG. 6B, theadapter having the cover attached;

FIG. 7A is a bottom perspective view of the adapter and shelf accordingto FIG. 6A with a luminaire fitted beneath the shelf;

FIG. 7B is a detail view of the adapter and shelf according to FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is a sectional view of the shelf with the adapter according toFIG. 6A inserted into the profiled rail according to FIG. 1A and in theunlocked,disconnected position;

FIG. 8B is a view similar to FIG. 8A, with the adapter in the locked,connected position;

FIG. 8C is a view similar to FIG. 8B also showing the power supply, theluminaire and the panel attached; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the profiled rail according the FIG. 1Awith a panel attached and a carrying arm plugged in.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, the detailed description of anexemplary embodiment of the profiled rail according to the invention andthe accessories used with the adapter will be given hereinbelow.

The following applies to the rest of the description. If, in order toavoid ambiguity in the drawings, a figure contains designations whichare not explained in the directly associated text of the description,then you are referred to the point at which they are mentioned inprevious or subsequent descriptions of the figures. For reasons ofclarity, components are not usually designated again in further figures,provided that it is clear from the drawings that they are “recurring”components.

The profiled rail 1 is provided for a suspension device having carriers6,8 which can be plugged into the profiled rail 1 and on which articlescan be suspended or set down, the profiled rail 1 being intended forfastening horizontally on a carrying structure 9, by way of a passage 10which extends into the profiled rail 1, in principle horizontally, froma front entry point 100. Arranged within the profiled rail 1 is aconductor rail 2 with current conductors 24,27 which is supplied withelectricity via a power supply 3. The current conductors 24,27 areaccessible from the passage 10 for the purpose of cutting electricityfor supplying a consuming unit 7 which can be connected via a feed line46. The conductor rail 2 comprises an insulating profile 20 and currentconductors 24,27 which are accommodated in wire channels 22,25 and canbe tapped via access points 23,26 at least more or less over the entireaxial extent of the current conductors 24,27 and in at least largelyuninterrupted manner. The conductor rail 2 is arranged in acurrent-conducting groove 15 which extends from the passage 10.

The insulating profile 20 of the conductor rail 2 has outer contours 21which fit into complementary inner contours on the current-conductinggroove 15. The current-conducting groove 15 is arranged, remote from theentry point 100, in the depth of the passage 10 and, in principle,perpendicularly to the latter. The access points 23,26 open, inprinciple, perpendicularly to the passage 10. The insulating profile 20has an M-shaped cross section in principle. The two access points 23,26are each located at the bottom within the side legs of the M-shapedcross section. The wire channels 22,25 with the current conductors 24,27provided therein are each located at the top within the side legs, inthe profile tips. The current conductors 24,27 can be tapped by anadapter 4 which can be pushed into the passage 10.

The end of the passage 10 is defined by a base plate 11 which has a topextension 110 extending upward and a bottom extension 113 extendingdownward, beyond the region of the incoming passage 10. Adjacent to thebase plate 11, a hook groove 16 extends upward, and an arresting groove17 extends downward, out of the passage 10.

The passage 10 is bounded at the top by a top strut 13 and at the bottomby a bottom strut 12. The passage 10 has:

-   a) at the top, a slope which slopes upward in the direction of the    entry point 110 and thus forms a top clearance 101,-   b) at the bottom, an inclination which is inclined downward in the    direction of the base plate 11 and thus forms a bottom clearance    102,-   c) in the bottom strut 12, in the vicinity of the entry point 100, a    strip groove 18 for accommodating a non-slip and damping, preferably    elastic extruded profile 180; and-   d) at the end of the passage 10, an axially accessible raised    molding 103, extending along the profiled rail 1, for tapping the    ground contact 44 of the adapter 4.

The profile rail 1, furthermore, has:

-   a) a supporting strut 14 which extends from the bottom strut 12,    opens out into the bottom extension 113 and encloses a cavity 114    with the bottom strut 12;-   b) on the top strut 13, a downwardly extending tongue 130 with a    tongue groove 131 located alongside it;-   c) on the bottom strut 12, a downwardly extending tongue 120 with a    tongue groove 121 located alongside it;-   d) in each case one screw-connection channel 115,111 in the region    of a supporting strut 14 extends from the bottom strut 12 and in the    region where the top strut 13 opens out into the base plate 11;-   e) on the top extension 110, a notched line 112, preferably on both    sides, has a marking;-   f) the tongue strips 120,130 are intended for being accommodated in    tongue grooves 920 which are present in the edges of carrying    structure 9;-   g) the notched lines 112 serve as an orientation means for screw    holes which may optionally be provided, and can be utilized in order    for the construction comprising the carrying structure 9 with one or    more profiled rails 1 introduced to be fastened directly or    indirectly on a part of a building.

The power supply 3 is formed by:

-   a) a cutout 19 on the profiled rail 1, into which a connection    terminal 30 is inserted;-   b) a plug coupling 31 comprising a bushing 33, which is positioned    in the cutout 19 alongside the connection terminal 30, and a plug    32, which can be coupled to the bushing 33 from the outside and to    which the current-supplying feed line 320 is connected; and-   c) a ground terminal 34 on the profiled rail 1.

The carrier 8,6 has, when in the form of a carrying arm 8, at theplug-in end 801 of the bar part 80, at least one tongue element 81 whichcan be plugged into the passage 10 of the profiled rail 1 and has abottom tapered portion 83 and an upwardly directed hook 82 which isintended for engaging in the hook groove 16. As an alternative, thecarrier 6 is in the form of a shelf of which the rear edge 60 can beplugged into the passage 10 of the profiled rail 1.

The adapter 4 can be pushed separately into the passage 10 for powertake-off or, inserted into an aperture 61 of a shelf 6, can be pushedinto the passage 10 together with the shelf 6. The adapter 4 comprises:

-   a) a rotatable pin 410;-   b) on the input side:-   ba) contact lugs 42,43 which can be pivoted on the rotatable pin 410    and are intended for power take-off from the current conductors    24,27; and-   bb) a tap 44 for the grounding conductor; and-   c) on the output side:-   ca) line connections 420,430 and a ground-contact connection 440,    which are connected to a feed line 46 to a consuming unit 7.

The adapter 4 also comprises:

-   a) a housing 40 with a bottom plate 400, a cover 401, an output    connector 402 and an optional plate groove 403 in the housing 40 for    insertion into the aperture 61 of a shelf 6, the output connector    402 merging into a conduit 460 for further cable routing to the    consuming unit 7;-   b) a rotary knob 41, which is accessible to the user and is    connected to the pin 410;-   c) a pin bearing 411 in the housing 40, and an inhibiter 412 acting    on the pin 410; and-   d) a catch 45, which is seated on the pin 410 and, in the connected    state, when the contact lugs 42,43 butt against the current    conductors 24,27 engages at least in one of the grooves 16,17; it    being the case that-   e) the catch 45, in the disconnected state, is disengaged, with the    result that the adapter 4 can be pushed into the passage 10 or drawn    out of the passage 10.

1. A profiled rail assembly for a suspension device to be fastenedhorizontally on a carrying structure (9) erected in a substantiallyvertical plane, the profiled rail assembly comprising: a profiled rail(1) including: a passage (10) having an end defined by a base plate (11)having a top extension (110) extending upward and a bottom extension(113) extending downward beyond the region of the passage (10), a frontentry point (100), the passage (10) extending into the profiled rail (1)substantially horizontally from the front entry point (100), a top strut(13) at the top of the passage (10) and a bottom strut (12) at thebottom of the passage (10), a top clearance (101) which slopes upward inthe direction of the entry point (100) at the top of the passage (10), abottom clearance (102) which is inclined downward in the direction ofthe base plate (11) at the bottom of the profiled rail (1), a stripgroove (18) formed in the bottom strut (12), in the vicinity of theentry point (100), and a non-slip and damping, preferably elastic,extruded profile (180) arranged within the strip groove (18), and at theend of the passage (10), an axially accessible raised molding (103),extending along the profiled rail (1) to engage the adapter (4), a hookgroove (16) extending upwardly from the passage (10) and adjacent thebase plate (11); an arresting groove (17) extending downwardly, out ofthe passage (10); a carrier (6,8) sized and shaped so as to engage, viathe entry point (100), the passage (10) of the profiled rail (1) andwhereby articles can be suspended or set down on the carrier (6,8); aconductor rail (2) arranged within the passage (10) and including aplurality of current conductors (24,27); a power supply line (3) sizedand shaped so as to convey electricity to the conductor rail (2); a feedline (46) connecting the current conductors (24,27) to a consuming unit(7) to convey electricity to the consuming unit (7); and an adapter (4)sized and shaped so as to insertably engage the passage (10) and tooperatively engage the current conductors (24,27) in the passage (10).2. The profiled rail assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein theprofiled rail (1) further includes: a) a supporting strut (14) whichextends from the bottom strut (12), to the bottom extension (113) anddefines a cavity (114) with the bottom strut (12); b) on the top strut(13), a downwardly extending tongue (130) with a tongue groove (131)located alongside the extending tongue (130); c) a downwardly extendingtongue (120) and an adjacent tongue groove (121) arranged on the bottomstrut (12); d) a first screw-connection channel (111) adjacent thejunction of the top strut (13) and the base plate (11); e) a secondscrew-connection channel (115) adjacent the junction of the strut (14)and the bottom strut (12); f) at least one notch (112) in the topextension (110), wherein the tongues (120,130) are sized and shape toengage tongue grooves (920) formed in the carrying structure (9); and g)the notched lines (112) serve as an orientation means for screw holes inthe construction of the carrying structure (9) with at least oneprofiled rail (1) inserted to be fastened on a part of a building. 3.The profiled rail assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the notch(112) is on both sides of the top extension (110).
 4. A profiled railassembly for a suspension device to be fastened horizontally on acarrying structure (9) erected in a substantially vertical plane, theprofiled rail assembly comprising: a profiled rail (1) having a passage(10) and a front entry point (100), the passage (10) extending into theprofiled rail (1) substantially horizontally from the front entry point(100); a carrier (6,8) sized and shaped so as to engage, via the entrypoint (100), the passage (10) of the profiled rail (1) and wherebyarticles can be suspended or set down on the carrier (6,8); a hookgroove (16) extending upwardly from the passage (10); a conductor rail(2) arranged within the passage (10) and including a plurality ofcurrent conductors (24,27); a power supply line (3) sized and shaped soas to convey electricity to the conductor rail (2), and including: acutout (19) on the profiled rail (1), into which a connection terminal(30) is inserted; a plug coupling (31) comprising a bushing (33), whichis positioned in the cutout (19) alongside the connection terminal (30),and a plug (32), which can be coupled to the bushing (33) from theoutside and to which the current-supplying feed line (320) is connected;and a ground terminal (34) on the profiled rail (1); a feed line (46)connecting the current conductors (24,27) to a consuming unit (7) toconvey electricity to the consuming unit (7); and an adapter (4) sizedand shaped so as to insertably engage the passage (10) and tooperatively engage the current conductors (24,27) in the passage (10).5. A profiled rail assembly for a suspension device to be fastenedhorizontally on a carrying structure (9) erected in a substantiallyvertical plane, the profiled rail assembly comprising: a profiled rail(1) having a passage (10) and a front entry point (100), the passage(10) extending into the profiled rail (1) substantially horizontallyfrom the front entry point (100); a shelf (6) sized and shaped so as toengage, via the entry point (100), the passage (10) of the profiled rail(1) and whereby articles can be suspended or set down on the shelf (6);a hook groove (16) extending upwardly from the passage (10); a conductorrail (2) arranged within the passage (10) and including a plurality ofcurrent conductors (24,27); a power supply line (3) sized and shaped soas to convey electricity to the conductor rail (2); a feed line (46)connecting the current conductors (24,27) to a consuming unit (7) toconvey electricity to the consuming unit (7); and an adapter (4) sizedand shaped so as to insertably engage the passage (10) and tooperatively engage the current conductors (24,27) in the passage (10),the shelf (6) having a rear edge (60) sized and shaped so as to engagethe passage (10) of the profiled rail (1), and the shelf (6) includingan aperture (61) sized and shaped so as to receive the adapter (4), theadapter (4) being sized and shaped so as to be inserted into the passage(10) together with the shelf (6).
 6. The profiled rail assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is a carrying arm (8) whichincludes a bar part (80) with a plug-in end (801), and at least onetongue element (81) at the plug-in end (801) which can be plugged intothe passage (10) of the profiled rail (1); and the plug-in end (801) isprovided with an upwardly directed hook (82) which is sized and shapedso as to engage in the hook groove (16).
 7. The profiled rail assemblyas claimed in claim 6, wherein the plug-in end (801) of the carrying arm(8) has a tapered bottom portion (83).
 8. A profiled rail assembly for asuspension device to be fastened horizontally on a carrying structure(9) erected in a substantially vertical plane, the profiled railassembly comprising: a profiled rail (1) having a passage (10) and afront entry point (100), the passage (10) extending into the profiledrail (1) substantially horizontally from the front entry point (100); acarrier (6,8) sized and shaped so as to engage, via the entry point(100), the passage (10) of the profiled rail (1) and whereby articlescan be suspended or set down on the carrier (6,8); a hook groove (16)extending upwardly from the passage (10); a conductor rail (2) arrangedwithin the passage (10) and including a plurality of current conductors(24,27); a power supply line (3) sized and shaped so as to conveyelectricity to the conductor rail (2); a feed line (46) connecting thecurrent conductors (24,27) to a consuming unit (7) to convey electricityto the consuming unit (7); and an adapter (4) sized and shaped so as toinsertably engage the passage (10) and to operatively engage the currentconductors (24,27) in the passage (10), the adapter (4) including: a) arotatable pin (410); b) on the input side: ba) contact lugs (42,43)which can be pivoted on the rotatable pin (410) and are intended forpower take-off from the current conductors (24,27); and bb) a tap (44)for the grounding conductor; c) on the output side: ca) line connections(420,430) and a ground-contact connection (440), which are connected tothe feed line (46) to the consuming unit (7), d) a housing (40) with abottom plate (400), a cover (401), an output connector (402) and anoptional plate groove (403) in the housing (40) for insertion into anaperture (61) of a shelf (6), the output connector (402) merging into aconduit (460) for further cable routing to the consuming unit (7); e) arotary knob (41), which is accessible to the user and is connected tothe pin (410); f) a pin bearing (411) in the housing (40), and aninhibiter (412) acting on the pin (410); and g) a catch (45), which isseated on the pin (410) and, in the connected state, when the contactlugs (42,43) butt against the current conductors (24,27) engages atleast in one of the grooves (16,17); such that h) the catch (45), in thedisconnected state, is disengaged, with the result that the adapter (4)can be pushed into the passage (10) and drawn out of the passage (10).